By Beth Treffeisen In a lengthy Draft Project Impact Report that was released on January 2, the developers behind the Winthrop Square Tower outlined their latest plans for redeveloping the abandoned parking garage at 115 Winthrop Square including a new design with less height and possibly more economic benefits for the city. One of...

By Dan Murphy Beacon Hill native Hadley Pierce credits her unique career choice as one of the founders and co-owners of a safari company to the indelible impression a family vacation to Africa in 2006 at age 12 left on her. “The landscape was so wide open, and I’d never seen anything like it...

Happy New Year to all Looking for volunteers to remove decorations this weekend Due to the frigid temperatures last weekend, Undecorating Days were postponed to this weekend, January 13 and 14. Volunteers are needed to remove the garlands and bows from Beacon Hill lamp posts. Please email info@bhcivic.org or call the office at 617-227-1922 to...

The Nichols House Museum at 55 Mount Vernon Street in Beacon Hill, will host an exclusive tea program with the Mark T. Wendell Tea Company on Saturday, January 20. Led by Hartley E. Johnson, owner of the Mark T. Wendell Tea Company, our special experience at the museum will include: ~ A brief overview...

The Zoning and Licensing Committee of the Beacon Hill Civic Association will meet on Wednesday, January 10th at 7:00 p.m. at 74 Joy Street. All meetings are open to the public. If you are unable to attend but would like to express an opinion, please call (617.227.1922), write (74 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02114)...

By Beth Treffeisen Hexagon Properties announced on Friday, Jan. 5, that they would no longer be pursuing a private club at 29 Commonwealth Ave. The team will soon be presenting plans for luxury residences at the location and will also be pursuing a new location in the Back Bay for the private club. “Over...

By Beth Treffeisen On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Back Bay resident Kevin Koncilja will brave the cold winter temperatures to run a 50-mile ultramarathon followed by a party at Tracksmith Trackhouse on Newbury Street to raise funds and awareness for the Martin Richard Foundation. The 50-mile loop will be five 10-mile loops around...

By Suzanne Besser In a neighborhood where most everyone knows your name, perhaps the best known name is that of Thomas Kershaw, owner of the Hampshire House and Cheers, the bar that inspired the iconic setting of the television series. And the reason we know his name is because of his nearly half-century of...

Beacon Hill Beat From Boston Police Area A-1 Larceny 12/27/17 – At about 7:30 p.m., a victim reported her wallet was stolen from her mother’s purse, which was strung over the back of a chair at a Cambridge Street bar. The wallet contained U.S. currency, bank/credit cards, a passport, personal identification and papers.

By Sally C. Pipes What makes for an awful trip to the doctor? Waiting. Earlier this year, doctor-rating website Zocdoc found that long waits or appointment delays were the primary motivators of negative marks from patients. Given this aversion to waiting, it’s shocking that Americans are coming around to government-run, single-payer health care. Waiting...

These past two weeks have brought the worst winter weather imaginable — coastal flooding, record cold, and a blizzard — but we’ve survived it all and made it out to the other side, as moderating temperatures, perhaps even reaching the balmy 50s, are predicted over the next 10 days. President Trump, as usual, tweeted...

By Beth Treffeisen On New Year’s Day morning, Mayor Martin Walsh took his oath of office, and was sworn into his second term as the 54th Mayor of Boston in front of a large crowd filled with residents, supporters, faith leaders and elected officials in the Cutler Majestic Theatre. Vice President Joseph R. Biden...

By Dan Murphy On Jan. 12, Bernard “Bernie” O’Rourke stepped down from his role as superintendent of the Boston Police’s Bureau of Field Services, ending a career with the department that spanned exactly 39 years. On Feb. 4, more than 200 guests attended the Beacon Hill Civic Association’s 45th annual Gala at the Four...

Boston’s Museum of African American History announced the creation of an award, which will honor non-fiction literature celebrating African American history and culture. The first Museum of African American History (MAAH) Stone Book Award, which includes a $25,000 prize, will be presented in the summer of 2018 at the African Meeting House in Boston,...

By John Lynds On Dec. 13. after eleven and half years as District 1 City Council, and a thirty year career as a public servant for the City of Boston, Councilor Sal LaMattina addressed his colleagues in the Council Chambers for the last time. In a stellar career that spanned three mayoral administrations LaMattina,...

By John Lynds In a letter to Boston Public School (BPS) families, BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang announced that the school department would not implement the proposed change to school start times. BPS held meetings where parents aired their grievances over the process and suggested the change to school start times in the neighborhood would...

Beacon Hill Beat Aggravated Assault/Shoplifting 12/09/17 – A male suspect stole four Canada Goose winter jackets from a Charles Street sporting goods store. A clerk pursued the suspect on Charles Street, at which time the suspect threatened to stab the clerk, although he didn’t display a knife. The clerk recovered two jackets while the...

We offer our congratulations to our city officials who were sworn into office this past week. Public service is not easy these days. In an era of limited resources, it seems that our elected officials find themselves saying “No” more often than not. And given the cutbacks in funding for state and local government...

The West End Museum held its First Annual Heritage Night on December 5 to recognize the more than 20 ethnic groups that lived in the old West End. Pictures is original West Ender, Joe McDonald, member of the West End Museum Board of Directors.

By Dan Murphy A once-darkened recess on Cambridge Street is looking a lot brighter and less daunting to passersby, thanks to a concerted effort involving a neighbor, the city and a responsive landlord. Last summer, John Corey, a member of the Beacon Hill Civic Association board of directors and its then-newly launched Cambridge Street...

By Beth Treffeisen The Boston City Council voted to elect four members to the Community Preservation Committee (CPA) who will work to allocate funds collected from the Community Preservation Act at a hearing on December 13. In November 2016, Boston voters approved adoption of the CPA, which will generate millions of dollars of revenue...

By Suzanne Besser, BHCA President BHCA asks for community support By now Beacon Hill Civic Association members and friends should have received packets of information about the Annual Appeal in the mail. Donations received during this Appeal provide vital funding for the BHCA staff and facilities, and enables ongoing efforts in community building, civic...